FOI request shows wildfire risk scheme scrapped, as data highlights many fire services lack proper protective gear

Could the amount of greenery outside your front door influence your risk of developing epilepsy? A large-scale prospective study drawing on the UK Biobank suggests it might. Researchers followed

‘Day-to-day’ symptom of harmful emissions, which in turn can disrupt sleep, can be overlooked, say researchers

Short-term increases in fine-particle air pollution may send more people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to emergency departments, according to a nationwide study in Singapore. Researchers examined nearly 75,000 emergency department visits for asthma and COPD between February 2016 and December 2022. The study found that the…

Records show Vineland facility in New Jersey emitted health-harming pollution before regulators stepped in

We are delighted to welcome Sir Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, and an eminent epidemiologist, to join the discussion for the Friday Forum - ‘the ethics of air pollution’

Atmosphere Watch, a new publication from the Copernicus Atmosphere Service, provides a comprehensive overview of ground-level ozone, desert dust and wildfire smoke in 2026 to date.

Why UK AQ was built, and future development plans.

Almost 40% of the world’s population has been exposed to harmful levels of ground-level ozone so far this year, as extreme heat and air pollution combine to worsen air quality across much of the globe. The finding comes from a new analysis by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), which…

Methane drives the formation of ground-level ozone, an invisible greenhouse gas that is also harmful to human health. Each year of continued coal mine methane emissions at current levels leads to around 26,400 preventable deaths over the following decades.

Scientists investigating how air pollution damages the heart and blood vessels have identified changes in the blood that could help explain the connection. Researchers at UCLA Health found higher levels of two groups of molecules in the blood of both mice and people exposed to air pollution. The findings suggest…

Drivers who leave their engines running while parked in Wales could face fines of up to £150 from oday (30th Ocober). The minimum penalty for unnecessary idling will rise from £20 to £75, with councils able to set fines of up to £150, from 30 September. Rule 123…

Local air quality management (LAQM) is the framework local authorities must follow to protect against air pollution in their area.

Heatwaves and wildfires combined with human-caused emissions this year combined to expose one third of the world's population to extremely high levels of ozone pollution, a European Union report said…

Copernicus says heatwaves and wildfires drove the exposure, with 53% of Asia's population affected in the first eight months of the year, while the European Environment Agency links air pollution to 180,000 premature deaths annually

The previous punishment for idling was £20 and had not changed since its introduction in 2003.

Copernicus Sentinel-4, Europe’s first geostationary air quality satellite, went fully operational Monday, completing the Geo-Ring constellation with NASA TEMPO and South Korea’s GEMS over Asia. For 450 million Europeans, hourly satellite monitoring of nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and wildfire smoke now

A Singapore study links short-term rises in PM2.5 levels to increased emergency visits for asthma and chronic respiratory diseases. Read more at straitstimes.com.

There’s a common misperception that creating safe space for cycling in our communities is unpopular. Cycling UK’s Policy Manager, Jim Densham, explains the phenomenon and why we have published a new…

People living on Maui had elevated levels of several metals in their bodies months after devastating wildfires swept through communities on the Hawaiian island, with higher exposure also linked to abnormal lung function, new research has found. The study, led by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, analysed urine…

A new study finds that metal mixtures found in smoke, ash and debris after the 2023 Maui wildfires affected human lung health

The city of Launceston has approved a “Domestic Wood Smoke Plan.” It leaves a lot to be desired.

Lawyers representing around 1.6 million motorists involved in the Dieselgate litigation are to ask the High Court for permission to appeal a judgment on whether carmakers used devices to manipulate vehicle emissions tests. The appeal application will be heard at the High Court on 7th and 8th October 2026, following…

7th September 2026 Meet the five young winners of our first Kids for Clean Air art competition, whose designs are about to go up on lamppost banners across Lambeth and Southwark.

Higher levels of air pollution on marathon race days are associated with slower finishing times, with recreational runners appearing to be affected more than elite athletes, new research suggests. We recently reported on a study that took place during this year’s London Marathon and now, researchers at the University…

Air pollution kills people, especially severe air pollution, even short-term. The EPA has a 24-hour safety limit for air pollution for this reason. Some

Log burners create fine particles which have been linked to two conditions.

The Kuching Marathon, scheduled for 27 September in Malaysia's Sarawak state, was cancelled due to the haze affecting the city

Local leaders have welcomed a government commitment to consider what should happen after areas meet legal air quality limits, amid concerns that compliance is being treated as the end of the road…

New research has found that large-scale weather patterns explain much of the year-to-year variation in northern India’s winter air pollution and may make seasonal forecasts of severe air pollution possible. Northern India experiences some of the world’s worst winter air pollution, with emergency control measures often introduced as mitigation. In…

Two studies link fine particulate matter from wildfires to increased hospital admissions and lower lung cancer survival.

Forest fires have blanketed parts of Indonesia, as well as neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore, in toxic smog for weeks now, pushing air quality indices into "unhealthy" territory

Almost seven million UK households want to install plug-in solar panels as rules governing the technology are relaxed, according to new research from comparison and switching service Uswitch. The research suggests 26% of households are interested in plug-in solar, which can now be connected to a standard wall socket to…

The full speaker line-up for our 2026 has been confirmed and can be viewed below. We will be releasing full information on the discussion panel next week The conference is once again being held at Prospero House in London, taking place on 11th November. This will be our 7th edition…

More than 40,000 young children are among 174,694 people who have suffered acute respiratory infections in parts of Indonesia affected by forest and land fires, as air pollution across the Kalimantan region reaches hazardous levels. The Health Ministry said Tuesday that 40,363 of the respiratory cases recorded since 18th August…

Cleaner air in New York City has been linked to improved cognitive development in young children, according to a study that tracked pollution exposure and developmental scores over more than two decades. Researchers at Columbia University studied successive groups of mothers and children living in Northern Manhattan and the…

People living in areas with higher levels of air pollution may face a significantly increased risk of developing glaucoma and cataracts, according to new research presented at the 44th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS). The findings suggest that exposure to fine particulate air pollution…

In general, the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks from air pollution. But there are steps we can take to minimise our exposure.

Paediatricians are building the evidence, skills and networks needed to put children's health at the centre of clean air policy and action

Australia’s advertising regulator has ruled against a wood stove manufacturer for making unsubstantiated environmental claims.

For decades, 60,000 miles has been a psychological milestone for used-car buyers. Once the numbers on the odometer climb beyond it, concerns about worn engines, ageing transmissions and expensive repairs often grow. But the rise of electric vehicles could be changing that calculation. An analysis of 47.4 million MOT…

23rd July 2026 As Andy Burnham settles into office, we want to send him a strong message: it’s time to deliver a Clean Air Act that protects everyone’s health. Join us in sending him a postcard asking for action.

The council said there had been an overall reduction since charges came into force in 2022.

Intensified by this year’s super El Niño, fires in Borneo and Sumatra are emitting toxic air for swathes of the population in Indonesia and its neighbours

10th July 2026 Our new film calls out the UK government and car manufacturers over the millions of illegally polluting diesel cars still on UK roads - and the toll they're taking on our…

Local leaders have welcomed a government commitment to consider what should happen after areas meet legal air quality limits, amid concerns that compliance is being treated as the end of the road rather than a starting point for further improvements. Air quality minister Emma Hardy MP told the Environmental Audit…